Pearl Harbor remembered

Ford Island, Pearl Harbor

December 7, 2015, marks the 74th anniversary of the Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, that killed thousands of people and launched the United States into World War II. The 70th anniversary of the end of World War II is being marked throughout this year. More than 12 million Americans, men and women of the Greatest Generation, served during the course of the war. More than 400,000 of them were killed.

Ford Island in Pearl Harbor is seen in this aerial photo taken from a Japanese plane on December 7, 1941. Early that Sunday morning a surprise attack at 7:48 a.m. Hawaiian time by the Imperial Japanese Navy in two waves, a barrage that lasted two hours and destroyed or crippled 18 U.S. ships, destroyed nearly 300 planes, killed 2,403 servicemen and 68 civilians and wounded 1,178 others, pulling the United States into World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war the next day, which it did with just one dissenting vote. FDR proclaimed December 7th a "date which will live in Infamy."

Credit: Getty Images

Pearl Harbor attack

Japanese soldiers wave as a plane departs for an aerial assault on the American military installation at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

Credit: Getty Images

Pearl Harbor attack - USS Shaw

The USS Shaw explodes during the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor.

All eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged with four of them sunk. All the ships were later raised except for the USS Arizona, which sank with more than 1,000 men onboard. Six of those raised returned to service and participated in the war.

Pearl Harbor attack - USS Shaw

Pearl Harbor attack - USS West Virginia

The battleship USS West Virginia is seen afire after the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941.

Credit: AP Photo

Pearl Harbor attack - USS West Virginia

A small boat rescues sailors from the USS West Virginia after she had suffered a hit in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

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Pearl Harbor attack - USS Arizona

A frame grab from color film taken of an explosion on the USS Arizona as its forward magazine suffers a direct hit. The warship sunk in nine minutes.

Credit: USS Arizona Memorial

Pearl Harbor attack - USS Arizona

The USS Arizona burns during the bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on December 7, 1941.

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Pearl Harbor attack - USS Arizona

The forward superstructure and Number Two 14 gun turret of the sunken USS Arizona after the attack.

Credit: USS Arizona Memorial

Pearl Harbor attack - USS Arizona

The USS Arizona shortly after the battleship was bombed and destroyed during the surprise attack on December 7, 1941. The vessel at right is a rescue tug.

Credit: AP Photo

Pearl Harbor attack - observation scout

One of the U.S. Navy planes wrecked by Japanese bombs and bullets during the air attacks on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. The plane was an OS2U, an Observation Scout built by Vought-Sikorsky.

Credit: Library of Congress

Pearl Harbor attack - anti-aircraft Fire

A Japanese bomber trails smoke after being hit by anti-aircraft fire during the attack on Pearl Harbor. More than 100 Japanese planes are estimated to have taken part in the attacks; at least 28 were shot down.

Credit: Library of Congress

Pearl Harbor attack - Hickam Field

A damaged B-17C bomber sits on the tarmac near Hangar Number 5 at Hickam Field, December 7, 1941.

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Kaneohe Naval Air Station

PBY-5 seaplanes burn on the tarmac of Kaneohe Naval Air Station.

Credit: USS Arizona Memorial

Kaneohe Naval Air Station

USS Downes and USS Cassin

Wreckage of the destroyers USS Downes and Cassin. In the background is the battleship USS Pennsylvania, which suffered relatively light damage during the Japanese attack. The Pennsylvania was repaired shortly after the attack.

Credit: Library of Congress

Pearl Harbor attack - USS Nevada

The USS Nevada is seen beached at Hospital Point.

Credit: Library of Congress

Pearl Harbor attack - USS Raleigh

The 7,050-ton light cruiser USS Raleigh, torpedoed and bombed, is held afloat by a barge; the capsized USS Utah is seen in the background.

Credit: Library of Congress

Pearl Harbor attack - USS California

Battered by bombs and torpedoes, the USS California slowly sinks into Pearl Harbor. At extreme right is the hulk of the capsized USS Oklahoma.

Pearl Harbor memorial

A U.S. Navy musician plays "Taps" in front of the USS Arizona Memorial during ceremonies marking the attack on Pearl Harbor at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument in Hawaii, December 7, 2012.